Dehydrator



Aug. 7, 1923.

R. L. PUCCINELLI DEHYDRATOR Filed June 29, 1921 2 SheetsSheetl NYE/V70 EOMOLO LPUCCl/VELL/ Aug. 7, 1923.

R. L. PUCCINELLI DEHYDRATOR Filed June 29, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inn [wrap POMOLO L, PUCCl/VZZL/ CZMZLM ATTIC of which the following is the type adapted for handling fruits,

Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

ROHOLO L. PUCGINELLI, 01 L08 GATOS, CALIFORNIA.

namnaroa.

Application filed June 29, 1921. Serial No. 481,242.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoMono L. PUCCI- menu, a citizen of theUnited States, residing atLos Gatos, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dehydrators,

a specification. This invention relates to dehydrators of vegetables and like roducts, and especially to improvements in the construction and arrangement thereof which will permit greater thermal efliciency; economical handling of the product to be dried, and greater un ormity as far as results are concerned.

Among the objects sought are:

Reduction of heat losses by radiation and conduction.

A structure in which resistance or obstruction of air flow and distribution thereof is Ipractically negligible.

. ecirculation of all or part of the air and thorough mixing of same with fresh air when desired.

A novel arrangement of dampers to automatically regulate humidit of air, volume or proportion of air recircu ated and volume of outside or fresh air admitted.

Time and labor saving means whereby entry and removal of the product may be accomplished without entering the drying tunnel.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the arts and the construction, combination an arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fi 1 1s a plan view 1n section of the deb rator.

ig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away.

F1 3 is an end view of the outlet end of the ehydrator.

F i 4 is an end view of the furnace end of the iahydrator.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the arrangement of the dampers whereby the volume of air recirculated, and the volume of outside air admitted is regulated.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the position of the dampers 20 and 22 and the operating levers connecting the same.

Refi'ermg to the drawings in detail, and

doors 5. Arranged near the outlet end of the tunnel is a transverse duct 6. This duct communicates with the discharge and of the furnace chamber and a blower 7 placed therein, and it also communicates with the discharge end of the drying tunnel 1 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Forming a partial closure for the transverse duct 6, and also serving the function of directing and deflecting the air admitted to the drying' tunnel is a series of grate bars 8, and su ported thereby, or by any other suitab 6 means, is a track 9 which extends from end to end through the tunnel for purposes to be hereinafter described.

Arranged directly above the intake end of the transverse duct 6 is the blower 7, which may be of any suitable construction. Mounted directly in front thereof is a partition plate 10, which forms a closure for one end of the furnace chamber. Formed in said partition plate however is a central 0 ening which forms the suction side of the lower and formed in the bottom of the blower casing is a discharge opening which opens into the tranverse duct 6 to deliver the air thereto. The partition plate 10 not only forms a closure for the furnace chamber, but it also forms a separate compartment at the end of the furnace chamber as indicated at 11; this compartment being provided for the rece tion of an electric motor 12 or any other suitable means whereby the blower may be driven, and to this extent might be termed, the engine room of the plant. Arran d at the opposite end of the mace cham r is a furnace 14 of any suitable construction. This furnace may be fired with wood, coal, oil or whatever fuel ma be most advantageously and economical y obtained where the plant is in operation, and it can therefore be seen that the particular type of furnace employed is of no im ortance as it willnaturally be adapte for the fuel employed. Forming an outlet from the furnace 14 is afiue 15, which terminates in a T-connection 16, and connected therewith is a pair of discharge flues 17 which are placed side by side and extended from one end of the furnace room to the other; said flues being finally re turned and combined so as to connect with a discharge stack 18. Disposed directly above the furnace and in the end wall indicated at 19 is a damper 20, and formed in the partition wall 3, between the furnace chamber and the inlet end of the drying tunnel, is an o ening 21 in which is mounted a plurality 0 vertically disposed dampers 22. These dampers are supported on individual shafts adapted to be turned in unison by means of a lever 23, and this lever is in turn connected with the damper 20 as shown at 24 in such a manner that opening of the dampers 22 will cause partial closing of the damper 20 and vice versa. This is of considerable importance as it automatically regulates the volume of humid air recirculated and conversely the volume of fresh or outside air admitted.

The structure as a whole may be built up of hollow tile and reinforced concrete. This makes a building or structure that is durable. fireproof and heat retaining. The building consists of the outside walls indicated at 25 and 26, the center partition wall 3, the end wall 19, and the end wall 27, forming a part ,of the engine room previously referred to. The walls may be suitably tied and roofed over, and the several tunnels or chambers are thus formed; the drying tunnel being normally closed by the doors indicated at 4 and 5. which are only opened when trucks loaded with fruit or the like are entered or removed. The operation will be as follows:

The fruit to be dried is preferably placed on trays provided with perforated bottoms, slots or the like. These trays are stacked on trucks which are entered by running them in on the tracks extending through the tunnel. The first truck admitted remains adjacent the inlet end or the doors 4 until the second truck has been loaded and is ready for the drier. The doors are then opened and the second truck entered. This will cause the first truck to move the length of one truck, and it can therefore be seen that as truck after truck is loaded and entered, that the first truck entered will finally reach the discharge end or the doors 5. In other words the material to be dried is entered at the coolest end of the tunnel and discharged therefrom at the hottest end.

It can further be seen that the trucks are progressively advanced and that due to the length of the tunnel, etc, complete evaporation should take place as each truck reaches the discharge end. Entrance, as far as laborers handling the trucks, etc. are concerned,

is not necessary as the trucks may be removed and entered through the doors indicated at 4 and 5.

The motor 12 and the blower 7 are of course set in operation when the fruit is to be dried and fuel of whatever nature employed is similarly delivered to the furnace 14. The dampers 22 will in the beginning be turned to wide open position, while the damper 20 will be closed and the air contained within the furnace chamber and the drier will thus be recirculated until the humidity becomes too great; apparatus not here shown for determining the humidity and the temperature of the air being employed. The moment the humidity reaches a predetermined point, it is obvious that damper 20 will be partly opened and that the dampers 22 will be partially closed. The volume of air then recirculated will of course be smaller and the volume of outside air will be increased; a desired proportion of both being readily obtained by the operator when the plant is in continuous o eration. As outside air is admitted through the damper 20, it can readily be seen that it will pass over and around the furnace 14 and between the coils formed by the discharge flues 17. Heat will in this manner he transferred to the air both by radiation and conduction, and a thorough mixture of the humid air recirculated and the fresh heated air admitted will be obtained before it enters the drying tunnel through the grate bars 8 as the air is passed through the blower before delivery to the tunnel. This is of great importance as stratification of humid air and air of varying temperatures within the drying tunnel is thus avoided and thorough mixin is obtained as each round of the air necessitates passage through the blower where the mixing is effected.

As a continuous volume of outside air is, comparatively speaking, being continuousl is obvious that a certain volume of humid air will necessarily have to be discharged. To accomplish this I form an opening 28 in the wall 25 near the inlet end. This opening forms a free means of escape for excess air delivered and does not require dampers or the like for regulation, that is air, like many other fluids and the like, will generally follow the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance will .in this instance be through the dampers 22 as there is a slight pressure above atmospheric pressure in the drying tunneL while there is a slight vacuum at all times within the furnace chamber, due

to the fact that this is connected with the suction side of the blower. The air entering the drying tunnel through the grate bars and forcing forwardly through the tunnel will therefore naturally try to escape from one pressure area to a lower pressure area. Th

admitted once the plant has been started, no

causes the recirculation desired, which may of course be regulated by the position of the dampers. Air not recirculated will therefore build up a pressure and will consequently automatically escape through the opening 28. y

The present "dehydrator has roven exceedingly economical, as far as t ermal efficiency is concerned, that is this can readily be seen from the fact that the furnace chamber and the drying tunnel are arranged side by side and as these are separated merely by a partition wall, no heat loss can take place between the same either through radiation or conduction. In fact the only heat loss would be the slight loss caused by the conduction through the exterior walls 25 and 26, and that escaping with the discharging air through the opening 28. Heat losses in the furnace indicated at 14 are also small as practically all radiant and conducted heat is absorbed by the air before the gases of combustion can discharge through the stack 18.

Another important feature of the present invention is a structure which permits the product to be dried to be readily entered and removed. This is due to the tunnel employed and the trackway extending therethrough; this arrangement permitting the trucks to be advanced progressively through the tunnel and without entering the same, a feature which is certainly desirable when it is considered that the work of loading and unloading and removing from place to place requires considerable physical exertion; or, in other words, work which can be more efficiently accomplished exterior of the tunnel than within the heated portion of the same. Labor efliciency should therefore be greater and the time required in handling and transferring the product, etc., should be proportionately less.

Another important feature is the provision of means for automatically regulating the humidity of the air, thetemperature of the same and insuring a thorough mixing of both humid and dry air. The automatic regulation of humidity is practically obtained by the'adjustment of the dampers 22 and 20. Thorough mixing is obtained by the blower as the air is repeatedly passed therethrough and temperature regulation is also obtained by the damper control. All fruit orother products handled are thus sub ected to a drying medium under ideal conditions and a uniform product is obtained m a mmimum of time and with a comparatively small expendit rc of power and fuel.

Among other outstanding features is a structure low in cost and construction and operation; further a structure in which complicated machinery and controls are. practically eliminated. a;

While certain featurea of the present invention are more or less specifically 1llustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may indicate or varying uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A dehydrator comprising a housing having a pair of parallel compartments formed therein separated by a partition wall, one compartment forming a furnace chamber and the other a dehydrating tunnel, communicating passages formed in the housing between each end of the dehydrating tunnel and furnace chamber, respectively, air circulating means, and air heating means disposed in the furnace chamber.

2. A dehydrator comprising a housing having a pair of parallel compartments formed therein separated by a partition wall, one compartment forming an elongated furnace chamber and the other a dehydrating tunnel, communicating passages formed in the housing between each end of the dehydrating tunnel and furnace chamber respectively, air circulating means disposed in one of the compartments, a damper disposed in one of said passages, an air inlet opening formed in the housing adjacent said damper and communicating with the furnace chamber, a damper in said opening, means for regulating the position of the respective dampers, and air heating means disposed in the furnace chamber. H

3. A dehydrator comprising a housing having a pair of parallel compartments formed therein separated by a partition wall, one compartment forming: a furnace chamber and the other a dehydrating tunnel, communicating passages formed in the housing between each end of the dehydrating tunnel and furnace chamber respectively, air circulating means disposed in one of the compartments, a damper disposed in one of said passages, an air inlet opening formed in the housing adjacent said damper and communicating with the furnace chamber, a damper in said opening, means connecting the respective dampers so as to permit opening of one and closing of the other in umson, and air heating means disposed in the furnace chamber.

4. A dehydrator comprising an elongated housin ments ormed therein separated by a partition wallflaiie compartment forming a furnace chamber and a ret flue and the other compartment a dehydrzii iig tunnel, a transverseduct formed in the housing connecting one end of the furnace chamber and the drying tunnel, a blower disposed at one end having a pair of parallel compart- Y of the furnace chamber, the suction side of the blower connecting with the furnace chamber and the discharge side of the blower connecting with one end of the transverse duct, said duct being disposed below the floor level of the respective compartments, air deflectin means disposed in the drying tunnel and forming a partial covering for the discharge end of the transverse duct, a passage formed in the partition wall at the opposite end of the drying tunnel and the furnace chamber and connecting the two chambers to permit a continuous circulation of air through the furnace chamber and drying tunnel and the communicatin transverse duct, means in the partition wall opening for regulating the amount of air recirculated, means for discharging a part of the air circulated, means for admittin exterior air to the furnace chamber, an air heating means disposed in the furnacechamber.

5. A dehydrator comprising an elongated housin having a pair of parallel compartments ormed therein separated by a partition wall, one compartment forming a furnace chamber and a return flue and the other compartment a dehydrating tunn'el, a transverse duct formed in the housing connecting one end of the furnace chamber and the drying tunnel, a blower disposed at one end of the furnace chamber, the suction side of the blower connecting with the furnace chamber and the discharge side of the blower connecting with one end of the-transverse duct, said duct being disposed below the floor level of the respect ve compartments, air deflecting means disposed in the drying tunnel and forming a partial covering for the discharge end of the transverse duct, a passa e formed in the partiti'onwall at the opposite end of the drying tunnel and the furnace chamber and connecting the two chambers to permit a continuous circulation of air through the furnace chamber and drying tunnel and the communicatin transverse duct, a damper disposed in said opening an air inlet opening formed in the housing communicating with the furnace chamber, a dam r disposed in said opening, means for a justing the position of said damper and the first named damper in unison, an air discharging opening formed in the housing and com municating with the dryin tunnel, and air heating means disposed in t e furnace chamher.

6. A dehydrator comprising an elongated housin having a pair of parallel compartments formed therein separated by a partition wall, one compartment forming a furnace chamber and a return flue and the other compartment a dehydrating tunnel, a transverse duct formed in the housing connecting one end of the furnace chamber and the drying tunnel, a blower disposed at one end of the furnace chamber, the suction side of the blower connecting with the furnace chamber and the discharge side of the blower connecting with one end of the transverse duct, said duct being disposed below the floor level of the respective compartments, air deflecting means disposed in the drying tunnel and forming a partial covering for the discharge end of the transverse duct,a passage formed in the partition wall at the opposite end of the drying tunnel and the furnace chamber and connecting the two chambers to permit a continuous circulation of air through the furnace chamber and drying tunnel and the communicating transverse duct, a damper disposed in said opening, an air inlet opening formed in thehousin communicating with the furnace cham r, adamper disposed in said opening, means for adjusting the position of said damper and the first named damper in unison, an air discharging opening formed inthe housin and communicating with the drying .tunnefi air heating means disposed in the furnace chamber, a trackway extending through the drying tunnel, and a door at each end of the drying tunnel forming a closure therefor.

ROMOLO L. PUCCINELLI.

CERTIFICATE or comc'nort. Pihnt No. 1,464,338. r Granted August 1, 1923, to

Bottom 1.. PUCCINELLL It is hereby-certified that error appears in the pririted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 79, claim 1, before the word "separated" insert the words disposed side by side and; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the smile niayeontorm to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of May, A. D. 193i.

M. J. Moore,

(Sufi Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

